Clicky

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
87
Imaging
51
Features
54
Overall
52
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs

Panasonic GX1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Renewed by Panasonic GX7
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is very well matched but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The GX1 was brought out 5 months after the NEX-5N and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the GX1 grades vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Sony NEX-5N

 GX1 NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic GX1

 NEX-5N GX1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N

 GX1 NEX-5N 
RevealedFebruary 2012October 2011Similar age
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GX1 offers outside measurements of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the GX1 against the NEX-5N.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and NEX-5N is 87 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GX1 and NEX-5N.

As you have seen, each of these cameras offer the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The GX1 provides the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field tougher.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Portrait photography info
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography info
70
manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW files
73
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
69
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
has focus via touch
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
includes focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Sports Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Sports photography camera
46
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
has no phase detect AF
58
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery pack (460 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Travel Comparison

Panasonic GX1 Travel photography details
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography details
65
has focus via touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
does not posses selfie friendly display
70
better than average battery pack (460 per charge)
includes focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
missing Timelapse mode
does not contain selfie friendly display
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GX1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Landscape photography camera
62
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
71
has manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (460 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Timelapse mode
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GX1
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
32
touchscreen enabled
supports face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic support
33
built-in touchscreen
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
missing microphone port
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-02-14 2011-10-03
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine FHD Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds APS-C
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4592 x 3448 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds Sony E
Available lenses 107 121
Focal length multiplier 2.1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.60 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 318 grams (0.70 lb) 269 grams (0.59 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 55 77
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 23.6
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.6 12.7
DXO Low light rating 703 1079
Other
Battery life 300 photographs 460 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $228 $550